Wire fence



(No Model) J." s. MARTIN.

WIRE FENCE.

Patented June 1,1897.

Nrrnn TATES' JOHN S. MARTIN, OF BAUGHMAN, OHIO.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 583,577, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed June 15, 1896. Serial No. 595,579. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Baughman township, in the county of \Vayne and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVire Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wire fences.

My object is to provide an improved fence of the class described in which the strain of the fence-wire will be more evenly distributed upon the various fence-posts than has heretofore been possible.

A further object is to provide a fence having improved and more simple and eflicicnt wire compensators.

A still further object is to provide a wire fence having improved devices for filling up the space between the horizontal wires, and, further, to provide improved brace and anchorage devices for the fence-posts.

A further object is to provide an improved fence-post which will more satisfactorily withstand decay.

Having these objects in view, my invention consists of certain novel features and combinations appearing more fully hereinafter, and which are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a section of my improved fence, one end of which is shown anchored and the other end shown both anchored and braced; Fig. 2, a detail of one of the compensators, and Fig. 3 a detail of my improved fence-post.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate the respective end posts of a section of my improved fence. These end posts, as well as the other fence-posts that are set in the ground, are of improved construction. The post is formed in two sections a and b, the latter of which is set in the ground.

The letters 0, (Z, c, and f designate four metal plates which are connected to the sections of the post bybolts g,which pass through opposite plates. When thus connected, the respective sections of the post are held separated.

.at this point.

In setting the post section b is sunk some what below the surface of the ground, but not far enough to bring section a in contact therewith. Fence-posts generally decay at or near the surface of the ground. The peculiar construction of the present post prevents decay Let it be assumed that fencepost 1 lies on the land of the owner of the fence at some point intermediate of the length of said fence and that the fence-post 2 forms the terminus of the fence. In either case the fence-post is provided with a series of vertically-extending wire-holes 3, preferably located in alinement. A rod 4 is connected to the upper end of the post, and the lower portion of said wire is formed into an eye 6.

The numeral 7 designates the link of a turnbuckle having an upper adjustable bolt member whose eye is engaged with the eye 6 and a lower adjustable bolt member 9, having an eye 10 in its lower end and its shank passing loosely through the link of the turnbuckle and provided with an adjusting-nut 11 and a rubber washer 12, interposed between said adj usting-nut and the link.

The numeral 13 designates the anchorage, which may be formed in any preferred shape and of any desired material, being located a suitable distance below the surface of the ground, as usual. A rod 14, having an eye in engagement with eye 10 of bolt 9, is connected to the anchorage. Twisted wires might be substituted for rods I and 14, if desirable.

The anchorage device is adjusted by inserting a bar or stick of wood through the link 7 and turning the same in either direction, while the rigidity of the strain brought to bear upon the post is lessened by the employment of the rubber washer 12. There are a series of main posts 15, and in the event of the end post being located on the line .between the owners property and the adjoining owncrs property the anchorage devices before described could not, of course, extend over on said adjoining property. Therefore the anchorage device is connected to the main post next adjoining the end post in this instance, as shown at the right of Fig. 1. I also employ a brace 16, which is connected to the upper end of the end post and to the l per of the two horizontal wires, as at 30.

main post near the bottom thereof. I find this method of bracing much more satisfactory than that commonly employed.

The numerals 17 designate the horizontal wires of the fence. These wires pass through the holes in the post in parallel relation, as shown. At one end of each wire there is located ratchet mechanism 18, so that the wire may be adjusted from one end only.

It will be observed that at each end of the fence the ratchet mechanism is applied to every alternate wire. Highly superior results are obtained by thus disposing the ratchet mechanism, as the tension on the wires is the same at both ends and more of the weight is thrown on the main posts.

\Vhere the wires cross the main posts they are bent into' triangular form, as shown at "19. A V-shaped spring 20 is then inserted in the triangle thus formed and a staple 21 driven into the post in such manner that it will loosely straddle the parallel portion 22, forming the base of the triangle. It is not necessary that the spring-wire compensator thus provided be used on every main post, but it is always preferable to use them on the main post next the end post. The tendency of. the arm of the V-shaped spring to move outward causes the wire to be kept properly taut at all times, thus compensating for contraction and expansion occasioned in changes in temperature. I also employ a series of intermediate posts 23, having staples 24, through which the horizontal Wires loosely pass, so that the wires may freely expand and contract. All of these posts need not be set in the ground, but the greater number should.

My improved fastenin gs for filling up the spaces between the horizontal wires consist of a single piece of wire 25. This wire is wrapped tightly in a coil 26 around a piece of leather or other pliable material 26 on one horizontal wire and then passed down and loosely around the horizontal wire immediately below, as shown at 27. The end is then passed upwardly and twisted together with the loose remaining end of the wire, as at 28. These fastening-wires are arranged in alternate relation vertically. The manner of twisting is somewhat varied on the fastening connecting the two upper and also the two lower horizontal wires. In the first instance the fastening-wire is looselywrapped around the lower horizontal wire, as at 29, and in the second instance it is loosely wrapped around the up- In the latter case'the coil 26 passes around the lower wire of the fence, so that the position of the fastening is reversed. Otherwise the arrangement is the same as that heretofore described. A cheap and simple fastener is thus provided, and yet the horizontal wires are allowed to expand and contract freely, while the leather prevents the fasteners from slipping.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shown and described, but consider myself entitled to all such variations as come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wire fence, the combination with end posts, of main posts located between said end posts, fence-wires connected to the end posts and bent into a loop at their point of intersection with the main posts, a spring device exerting a tendency to keep the loop normally expanded and to resist contraction of said loop, and a device for loosely fastening the wires to the main posts.

2. In a wire fence, the combination with end posts, of main posts located between the end posts, and fence-wiresconnected to the end posts and bent into a triangular loop on their point of intersection with the main posts, a spring within the loop exerting a tendency to keep said loop normally expanded and to resist contraction thereof, and a device for loosely fastening the wires to the main posts. I

3. In a wire fence the combination with end posts, of main posts located between the end posts, fence-wiresconnected to the end posts and bent into triangular loops at their point of intersection with the main posts, a V-shaped spring inside each loop and exerting a tendency to keep the loop normally expanded and to resist contraction thereof, and a device for loosely fastening each loop to the main post.

at. In a wire fence, the combination with end posts, of main posts located between the end posts, fence-wires connected to the end posts and bent into spring-expanded loops at their intersection with the main posts, a device for loosely fastening each loop to its main post, and intermediate posts located between the main posts and to which the fencewires are loosely connected.

5. In a wire fence, the combination with end posts, of main posts located between the end posts, fence-wires bent into spring-expanded loops and loosely connected to the main posts at their intersection therewith, intermediate posts between the main posts and provided with staples through which the fence-wires loosely pass, and mechanism adj ustably connecting the wires withsaid end posts.

6. In a wire fence, the combination with fence-posts, of fence-wires connected thereto, and fasteners for filling the spaces between the fence-wires, said fasteners consisting of a piece of pliable material located on one fence -wire, and a piece of wire wrapped tightly around the pliable material and fence wire and loosely looped around the adjacent fence-wire, and the ends of said fasteningwire being twisted together.

7. In a wire fence, the combination with end posts, of longitudinally-extendingwires connected thereto, fence-posts intermediate to the end posts and to which the fence-wires are adjustably connected, Wire fasteners for filling the spaces between the fence-Wires, the extreme upper and lower fasteners being tightly wrapped around the upper and lower fence-wires respectively and loosely looped around the respective adjacent wires, and wire fasteners intermediate to said upper and lower fasteners, the intermediate fasteners being tightly secured to one fence-wire and loosely looped around the adjoining fencewire and said intermediate fasteners being arranged in alternate relation vertically.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. MARTIN.

\Vitnesses:

ROBERT H. DAY, WM. A. ULMAN. 

